About Us
Sacred Ground is a community of spiritual directors and compassionate listeners who embody a spirituality that looks for God in all things. Our mission is to train and professionally support spiritual directors and offer spiritual direction to all who seek it.
What We Do:
Sacred Ground’s trained spiritual directors provide a safe, nurturing environment for individuals to share their sacred story and deepen their relationship with God.
Sacred Ground provides comprehensive training of spiritual directors. Our small cohort educational model provides a contemplative atmosphere with focus on discernment and interior movements of the Spirit.
Sacred Ground is a member organization, providing professional development, peer supervision, and a supportive community for spiritual directors and others to continue to grow and learn.
The Invitation: In the midst of our fast-paced culture, we invite you to spend some time exploring your relationship with God.
Our History: The Sacred Ground Center for Spirituality was founded in 1996 by spiritual directors trained by the Cenacle Sisters in Wayzata, Minnesota. Sacred Ground opened as an independent and ecumenical organization in June 1997, continuing the Cenacle charism of “awakening and deepening faith for and with the people of our time.”
Now, Sacred Ground’s office is in the Carondelet Center in St. Paul, MN. However, we offer events and courses both online and throughout the Twin Cities metro area.
The Roots of Ignatian Spirituality
We at Sacred Ground are committed to teaching, sharing, and living out essential expressions of spirituality as set out by Ignatius of Loyola.
These key characteristics of an Ignatian way of being are in our roots, stabilize us as we move within our present, and nurture our growth into who we will become. At the core of our identity, we are dedicated to important key factors of Ignatian teachings. The wisdom of these teachings are gained through experiential and historically traditional modes of learning, earned insights, and sharing among seasoned members and new seekers, and relationships with peers.
We see life and the whole of the universe as a Sacred gift calling forth awe and gratitude.
We emphasize balanced, holistic ways of knowing based upon not just intellect, but also imagination and emotion.
We believe the Sacred is present in all—all people, all ways and means of gaining wisdom, all human experience, and (for the Christian) in the person of Jesus.
We cultivate awareness of individual and societal “evil,” but point to the Divine’s love as more powerful. This powerful love creates new life in all of life’s challenges.
We promote deep listening, freedom, self-reflection, a contemplative attitude, thoughtful discernment, and conscientious action in order to cultivate the ultimate intention: giving and receiving life and love.
We seek to empower people to become leaders who minister and serve—those who work as whole persons from their truest selves for the greater good, both cooperatively and individually.
We express Ignatian Spirituality through such practices such as Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises as a whole; prayerful reflection on the events of the day; imaginative, contemplative prayer; prayers of giving and receiving; and spiritual retreats.
